Technical > PC Hardware Discussion/Reviews > For $3000 dollars -

For $3000 dollars -

reply to dsless

Re: For $3000 dollars -

reply to dsless
For 3k you can get one hell of a desktop system. Dual or triple video cards, 16-32GB RAM some good fast SSD's for your video and pic edits.
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In need of a Vegas vacation.

reply to Krisnatharok
I am just weighing the pros and con's. I kind of prefer a laptop. However as you pointed out the cost is about 2x vs the cost of a desktop. Which is something to consider.
Thanks.

Laptop GPUs are low-power equivalents to the "real" GPUs used in desktops. A GTX 680M is a little less powerful than a GTX 560 (non-ti).

So you would get better bang for your buck by going desktop, but mobility is almost an absolute show-stopper for desktops, baring some ITX build that would be difficult with a desktop form factor.

That said, here is a Falcon NW desktop on the ITX form factor that has both an Ivy Bridge i7 and a GTX 680. It's not cheap, but $3000 should be able to buy one:

»Good read, Falcon NW SFF gt 680
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If we lose this freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment, those who had the most to lose, did the least to prevent its happening.

reply to dsless
Only you know your uses. Will you game and video edit on the go constantly? Or is gaming and heavy use stuff only done at home.
If most of it is at home a desktop has more flexibility and easier to keep current later when it starts not to be new anymore.

I tend to do most stuff at home so a decent home desktop (s) and a cheap just web surf maybe watch netflix laptop. Gets my homework done also when away from home.

If you are always editing video in the field or playing certain games away from home often a better laptop may be needed.

reply to dsless
Time once again for my MSI ad: »www.msimobile.com/level2_product···spx?id=6

Here's a list with the 680 in different configurations. I have a high end MSI and I love it.

reply to dsless
The MSI and Falcon NW looking interesting. Thanks, for posting!

reply to dsless
If mobility is of utmost importance then you will have to settle for a laptop and it's price premiums and lower power components. If you can deal with a desktop then you will get better components out of the deal.

Motherboard - $449.99: ASUS P8Z77-V Premium - »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13131850
CPU - $339.99: Intel i7-3770K - »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···19116501
Memory - $199.99: G.Skill 32GB (4x 8GB) DDR3 1600 - »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20231569
GPU - $1049.99: EVGA Signature GTX 690 4GB - »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···14130790
Subtotal - $2039.96

That's using your requested motherboard and CPU, which are more or less the top of the line parts currently (or very close). You said you had plenty of drives, and I'm going to assume you are salvaging the existing case, PSU, monitors, etc.

Maybe you need a better power supply or a bigger case? With that GPU I wouldn't go less than 750W PSU.
PSU - $349.99: Corsair AX1200i - »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17139039
Case - $129.99: Corsair Carbide 500R - »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···11139009
Subtotal - $2519.94

At this point you've got nearly an entire new computer and can reuse the old one for any number of other uses. You've still got just under $500 to play with from your original $3000. You can add a couple SSDs if you want (though there is the onboard 32GB SSD for the SRT function), if you don't already have any SSDs around, or a Blueray reader/burner, or maybe add water cooling or even an aftermarket air cooler.

Oh and UPS ground on all this to me is only $14.10 bringing us to a Grand Total - $2534.04